Liverpool news and transfer rumours RECAP - Klopp speaks, Inter lead De Vrij chase and Salah wants title at Anfield

Sam Carroll and the rest of the team will be with you today from 7am to ensure constant coverage of all things LFC, including news, great photos, nostalgia, live interviews and much, much more.

The ECHO will also provide you with the very latest transfer news as it happens throughout the week, with every rumour and story digested and analysed each day with updates from full-time LFC reporter - both home and away - James Pearce, as well as LFC editor Andy Kelly and more.

There will be all the latest team news before games, plus every one of Jurgen Klopp's press conferences covered live and with video.

We want you to get involved too - tell us your thoughts on what's happening at Anfield by tweeting @LivEchoLFC or @SamCarroll0. Join the debate!

“He’s been with us just over a week now. He was released from his club, Fluminese in Brazil.

“We got to find out about that, and invited him to come over to do some training with us to see how he was and how he likes us. I’m hoping we’ll reach an agreement with him. Doug Freedman and Steve Parish (Palace’s sporting director and chairman) have been working very hard to get that agreement with him to at least stay until the end of that season.

“I believe they’re well advanced in those discussions, but unfortunately not so advanced that we’ll have him with us on Sunday.”

The Brazilian made eight appearances for the Reds - all of which were in cup games.

Pearce on Klopp

Klopp excited by Reds young talent

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed he is a big fan of Steven Gerrard’s Under-19s side and the youngsters coming through the club.

He says:

“I loved the result of the under-19s in a difficult game against United.

“We won it and I give my compliments to Stevie. I like his desire and how he’s doing the job. It’s really cool and he has a good bunch of players together there.

“Steven has a nice team and Critch (under-23s boss Neil Critchley) as well, although for him it’s a bit more difficult as we gave half of his team away on loan. It gives others an opportunity to play.”

Ex-captain of Liverpool Steven Gerrard with Manager Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on December 12, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

15:37Chris Beesley

'Lovren is a different players now'

Following our article on how Dejan Lovren has been helping Virgil van Dijk integrate smoothly into the Reds team, fans have been having their say on our Facebook page.

Brian Matangira I have been one of Lovren’s biggest critics ever since he came to Anfield. And I have advocated for Matip all along. But since Vvd and Lovren have found each other I have been very much impressed by their partnership. Seems Lovren is a different player now. His confidence levels are high and he has been magnificent. Wouldn’t take him out.

David Crickit Dolan Lovern has been playing well, he deserves a bit of criticism but not of late

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (right), Dejan Lovren (left) and Southampton's Dusan Tadic after the final whistle during the Premier League match at St Mary's (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

14:58Sam Carroll

Pearce Reacts

14:55Sam Carroll

Good on Jim!

If I’m still playing football at 45 I’ll be happy, never mind 90!A cracking achievement from Jim, who, naturally, is a Red!

14:39Sam Carroll

Fonte Leaves

One player who won’t be facing the Reds tomorrow is Jose Fonte, who has departed West Ham for the Chinese Super League this afternoon.

14:36Sam Carroll

Moyes on Liverpool

It’s not just Jurgen Klopp who’s been in front of the media today - David Moyes has also spoken ahead of his side’s clash with Liverpool.

Upon facing the Reds, the former Everton boss said:

It’s a tough game, but we’re in a good run of form ourselves. It will not be easy to stop Mane, Salah and Firmino. We will try to contain them - they have other players of course but those three can create on their own. We’ll go there and hope that with the players we have in our team we will cause them problems as well.

In regards to winning at Anfield, he commented:

It would do big things, not just back-to-back wins but if we win at Anfield that would be a big confidence booster. We’ve done well against what you’d call the big teams recently and we hope we can do so again on Saturday.

A Liverpool fan poses for a photo with a statue of David Moyes at Anfield (Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

14:32Sam Carroll

We're Back!

We’re back from Jurgen Klopp’s press conference.

Missed it?We’ve got every word penned down and some glitzy videos of Jurgen speaking, too.

If you were with us, then settle back down as we see out your Friday afternoon and keep you up-to-date with all the Liverpool news flying around!

13:20Sam Carroll

Classic Mario

Former Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli was quite disappointed not to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin, it seems.

13:05Sam Carroll

Inter Offer De Vrij Deal?

Italian news outlet Premium Sport report today that while Juventus are chasing contract rebel Stefan de Vrij - as well as Liverpool and Manchester United - Inter Milan lead the chase after offering the Dutchman a five-year deal with a four-and-a-half million euros salary package.

Not a bad pay packet, that. Almost doubles my wages!Liverpool will have to get a move on - apparently - if they’re to land their man!

12:48Sam Carroll

Klopp in 40!

Jurgen Klopp is to meet the media in forty minutes, and we will - as always - bring you live updates from Melwood as the boss talks Marbella, Clyne and the clash with David Moyes’ West Ham tomorrow.

Salah Wants Title With Reds!

Mohamed Salah will appear on the BBC’s Football Focus tomorrow, but in the snippet of interview they’ve released beforehand, he gives Liverpool fans the news they want to hear.

He’s at Anfield to secure silverware!

I came to here to win titles. I can tell the fans we work 100% to try and win something for the club. It’s a long time since the club won the league. It’s my dream to win the Premier League - but I want to win it with this club.

Sounds good to me, Mo.

Let’s hope the Egyptian can bring the title to Liverpool in the next few years. Imagine the scenes!

Lallana is Back!

Zielinski Links

Piotr Zielinski was some player for me on Football Manager last season, but according to sources in Italy, Jurgen Klopp is an admirer too.

Apparently Jurgen Klopp has been following the midfielder since his time at Empoli on loan and has had his scouts “continually following” him. That must get awkward when he’s out for dinner, mustn’t it?

According to the report from Calcio Mercato, a bid of up to £40 million would be needed to secure his signing.

Maurizio Sarri, the Napoli manager, has claimed he’s the next Kevin De Bruyne, though, so it could prove to be a bargain!

Gerson Santos da Silva (L) vies with Piotr Zielinski during the Italian Serie A football match Roma vs Napoli at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on October 14, 2017. (Image: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)

11:16Sam Carroll

Sign Him Up!

11:08Sam Carroll

Former Reds Impress

It didn’t quite happen for them at Anfield, but it seems like Peter Gulacsi and Nuri Sahin played well for their respective clubs in Europa League action this week.

10:54Sam Carroll

Important Mo Goals

Harry Kane has scored the most goals in the Premier League this season - but Mohamed Salah’s strikes have been more important for Liverpool.

According to the Premier League, the Egyptian’s goals have meant an extra 13 points for Liverpool, in contrast with the 12 points that Kane’s goals have won for Spurs. Aguero, on the other hand, has only secured a, er, paltry seven points for City.

So he doesn’t just bag them - the Egyptian king gets the important ones!

What a man. (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

10:30Sam Carroll

Lawro Predicts....

That Liverpool will beat West Ham 3-0 tomorrow.

Both teams had last weekend off and Liverpool used their break to head to Marbella for a few days. The Reds are unbeaten in the league at Anfield this season and we know how they attack teams in their home games.

We also know that Liverpool’s front players are in excellent form and I don’t see the West Ham defence coping with them.

In his weekly prediction column for the BBC this week he comes up against “I, Tonya” stars Margot Robbie and Allison Janney.

They reckon West Ham are going to sneak a 1-0 win at Anfield.

I’ll personally watch I, Tonya one-hundred times on repeat if that happens.

Margot Robbie - not a Liverpool fan, apparently.

10:18Sam Carroll

Camacho and Jones Join First-Team Training

After his goal in the UEFA Youth League last 16, Rafael Camacho was promoted to first-team training by Jurgen Klopp yesterday.

He even gave skipper Jordan Henderson a piggyback. Helpful.

Will Rafael be the next name to progress from academy to Anfield?

Curtis Jones was involved, too!

Jump on, Jordan.

What is this game?

09:57Sam Carroll

Adam on Ceballos Links

Adam Jones sat down with the bountifully-haired Ian Croll this morning to discuss the Dani Ceballos transfer rumour.

Van Dijk and Mane Included

Football boffins Who Scored have aggregated their player ratings over the first-leg of Champions League last 16 games - and Virgil van Dijk got the nod alongside flawless Sadio Mane!

The Senegalese hit-man was also the highest rated player of the round!

09:30Sam Carroll

A Decade Ago....

Fernando Torres bagged his first Liverpool hat-trick a decade ago today - his first of three during his time at Anfield!

09:13Sam Carroll

Karius on Karius

Loris Karius has been evaluating his recent form with the Liverpool website this morning - and he reckons himself and Virgil van Dijk are improving week-by-week as they “get used to each other.”

“[It’s been] pretty good [but] you have to perform week in, week out to stay in there,” the German shot-stopper said. “Even when you’re established maybe now as No.1 you always have to perform good and prove it week by week, so there’s never really any laying back or anything.”

“There are so many games, so many important games, so you just have to be at your best every week, really.”

When asked about Van Dijk’s development since signing from Southampton, Karius pointed out that after a tough settling in period, the Dutchman’s true qualities have began to shine through.

“I think Virgil came in in the winter and you can see how he’s adapted now, he’s been playing very well recently [but] you could see in the first few games he needed some time to adapt to it.

“So I think it helps, it’s a good thing, I think, for the defence in general that we’re all getting used to each other and doing well.”

And when asked about his own form, Karius doesn’t want praise as he expects such levels of performance.

I just try to be there for the team when they need me, make some saves and keep the team in the game.

So it’s good if I can help out like this, that’s my job, that’s what I want to do. That’s what I expect from myself so I don’t need too much praise for it, really.

That’s what I’m there for and I’ll try to do that again in the next coming weeks when the team needs me, try to make the saves, but of course when you play every week then the confidence is there and game time every week helps to find your rhythm and improve on things.

Remember This?

Jordan Henderson.

Scoring.

A brace.

A brace!

The good old days.

08:32Sam Carroll

Firmino!

Roberto Firmino became just the third player to win the club’s player of the month award this season - Mo Salah (4) and Dejan Lovren are the other winners - and named his strike against Manchester City his favourite of January’s excellent efforts.

My favourite one was against Manchester City. Particularly because of the game that the team played, the whole performance that we achieved on that day to win the match.

Well done, Bobby!

08:19Sam Carroll

Alisson £90m

If Liverpool want to sign Alisson Becker in the summer, they’ll need to pay around £90 million for his services, Calcio Mercato claim.

Our man James Pearce reported last week that the Reds are willing to put their faith in Loris Karius, but performances until the end of the season are likely to shape how heavily the club are willing to back the German stopper.

This figure has been touted a lot recently, but is Alisson worth such a hefty premium?

Or do you think there’s better options at the club or elsewhere?Let me know @SamCarroll0!